ballot initiatives
Direct democracy measures
Ballot initiatives are proposed laws or constitutional amendments that citizens vote on directly, bypassing the legislature.
Supporters gather signatures to place the measure on the ballot, then voters decide: The state passed a ballot initiative legalizing recreational marijuana.
Also called ballot measures or propositions.
Not all U.S. states permit them.
- petition drivesOrganized signature-gathering efforts
- signature gatheringCollecting names for initiatives
- referendumDirect vote on legislation
- plebisciteDirect vote by citizens
- voter turnoutShare of eligible citizens voting
mail-in ballots · election day · constitutional law · advocacy groups · special interests · campaign spending · proposition · recall election · activism · grassroots organizing · voting · grassroots movements · get out the vote · public debates · popular sovereignty · protests · town hall meetings · vote
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- civic dutiestaxes, jury duty, paying taxes, voting, tax payment
- civic engagementcivic engagement, citizen participation, civic participation, civic responsibility, civic activism
- direct democracyreferendums, plebiscites, propositions, initiatives, recall elections
- local politicstown council, city councils, town meeting, mayors, alderman
- BC PoliticsMLAs, MLA, NDP, ridings, cabinet ministers
ballot initiativeslegislative bills
Proposed statutes under consideration
acts of Congress · executive orders · court decisions · judicial rulings · statutes
ballot initiativesrepresentative democracy
Governance through chosen delegates
republican government · legislative process · delegated authority · parliamentary system